Patawomeck Indian Tribe of Virginia

This article is about state-recognized tribe. For historic Native American tribe, see Patawomeck.
Patawomeck Indian Tribe
of Virginia[1]
Named afterPatawomeck people, American Indians
Formation2014[2]
Typestate-recognized tribe (2010),[3] nonprofit organization (2014)[2]
EIN 47-1481316
(Patawomeck Indian Tribe of Virginia);[2]
EIN 27-1379012
(Patawomeck Heritage Foundation)[4]
PurposeA23: Cultural, Ethnic Awareness[1]
HeadquartersStafford County, Virginia[5]
Location
Membership
2,300[5]
Official language
English
President
Charles Bullock (2022)[1]
Websitepatawomeckindiantribeofvirginia.org

The Patawomeck Indian Tribe of Virginia is a state-recognized tribe in Virginia and a nonprofit organization of individuals who identify as descendants of the Patawomeck people.

The Patawomeck Indian Tribe of Virginia is not federally recognized as a Native American tribe.[6] The organization has never petitioned for federal recognition.

The Patawomeck people, more commonly known as the Potomac people, are a historic Eastern Algonquian–speaking tribe who lived on the Virginia.[7]

State recognition

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Through House Joint Resolution No. 150, the Commonwealth of Virginia's legislators formally designated the Patawomeck Indian Tribe of Virginia as a state-recognized tribe in 2010.[3] The resolution states: "That the General Assembly of Virginia, by this resolution, does not address the question of whether the tribe has been continuously in existence since 1776; and, be it RESOLVED FINALLY, That the Commonwealth, by this resolution does not confirm, confer or address in any manner any issues of sovereignty."[3] Entertainer Wayne Newton, who identifies as Patawomeck, advocated for recognition.[8]

Organizations

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In 2014, the Patawomeck Indian Tribe of Virginia formed a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization, based in Fredericksburg, Virginia.[1]

Charles "Bootsy" Bullock serves as their president in 2022.[9][2]

Robert Green of Fredericksburg, Virginia, identifies as "Chief Emeritus" of the Patawomeck Indians of Virginia and served as primary chief from 1996 to 2013.[10] He also served as president of the Patawomeck Heritage Foundation from 2010 to 2015.[10]

The related Patawomeck Heritage Foundation is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization, based in Colonial Beach, Virginia and incorporated in 2010.[4] Its officers are:

  • President: Lou Silver
  • Treasurer: Mary Ann Berry, also agent
  • Secretary: Annette Schaul.[4]
  • Executive assistant: Minne Lightner.[9]

They have an estimated membership of 2,300.[5]

History

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Robert "Two Eagles" Green was the chief of the tribe from its reorganization until 2013, when he retired and became Chief Emeritus. Green was an adviser to the filmmakers of The New World (2005), about the colony at Jamestown and the Native American peoples and cultures encountered by the colonists.[11] Green appeared in the film in a non-speaking role; his son Jason Green also appeared as a Powhatan warrior.[12] However, racism in Virginia caused many families to hide their Indian ancestry.[12][11] The Patawomecks provided the filmmakers with numerous wild turkey feathers and deer antlers to create authentic clothing for the Native American characters in the film. Green also portrayed Powhatan in the episode "Pocahontas Revealed" (2007) of PBS's Nova.[citation needed]

In 2013, Green was succeeded as chief by John Lightner.[13] Today the tribe has approximately 2,300 members, most of whom live in Stafford County within ten miles of Patawomeck.[14] In 2014, the tribe worked with Stafford High School to make the school's "Indian" mascot more representative of Virginia Indians.[14] In 2019, John Lightner was succeeded by Charles Bullock as Chief.

Activities

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The organization opened the Patawomeck Museum and Cultural Center in Fredericksburg in 2023.[15] Stafford County leased an 1890s brick farmhouse on 17-acres of land to the organization for $1 a year as part of a ten-year lease.[9] Local businesses and foundations have provided grants to fund the restoration of the farmhouse.[9]

References

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  1. ^ a b c d e "Patawomeck Indian Tribe of Virginia". Cause IQ. Retrieved 9 May 2022.
  2. ^ a b c d "Patawomeck Indian Tribe of Virginia". GuideStar. Retrieved 9 May 2022.
  3. ^ a b c "House Joint Resolution No. 150". Virginia's Legislative Information System. Retrieved 9 May 2022.
  4. ^ a b c "Patawomeck Heritage Foundation". OpenCorporates. Retrieved 9 May 2022.
  5. ^ a b c "Native Heritage Month". Virginia Interfaith Center. Retrieved 9 May 2022.
  6. ^ "Indian Entities Recognized by and Eligible To Receive Services From the United States Bureau of Indian Affairs". Indian Affairs Bureau. Federal Register. 8 May 2022. pp. 7554–58. Retrieved 21 February 2022.
  7. ^ Feest, Christian F. (1978). Trigger, Bruce G. (ed.). Handbook of North American Indians: Northeast, Vol. 15. Washington, DC: Smithsonian Institution. p. 269.
  8. ^ "Patawomeck Tribe Is Reborn". Stafford Museum and Cultural Center. Retrieved 9 May 2022.
  9. ^ a b c d Baron, James (9 May 2022). "'It's been a long journey': Patawomecks gear up for July opening of tribal center". The Free Lance-Star. Retrieved 10 May 2022.
  10. ^ a b "Robert Green, CCLA, WCCLA, FCLA, SCLA". LinkedIn. Retrieved 9 May 2022.
  11. ^ a b Zitz, Michael (24 December 2005). "Stafford history goes Hollywood". The Free Lance—Star. Fredericksburg, Virginia. Archived from the original on 27 July 2014. Retrieved 21 July 2014.
  12. ^ a b Dennen, Rusty (1 October 2006). "A tribe's tale: Jamestown celebration shines new light on Patawomecks". The Free Lance—Star. Fredericksburg, Virginia. Archived from the original on 27 July 2014. Retrieved 21 July 2014.
  13. ^ Estes, Lindley (23 November 2014). "Video celebrates Virginia Indian Heritage Month". The Free Lance—Star. Fredericksburg, Virginia. Archived from the original on 26 July 2014. Retrieved 21 July 2014.
  14. ^ a b Umble, Amy Flowers (27 March 2014). "Stafford High gets real with Indian mascot". The Free Lance—Star. Fredericksburg, Virginia. Archived from the original on 26 July 2014. Retrieved 21 July 2014.
  15. ^ Duster, Chandelis (21 January 2024). "A Virginia tribe says racism wiped their Native identity from historic records. Nearly a century later, they're still fighting for recognition". CNN. Retrieved 31 March 2024.
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